Hersfeld's athletes shine: Honors at the Evening of Sports 2025!

Hersfeld's athletes shine: Honors at the Evening of Sports 2025!

Once a year in the Hersfeld-Rotenburg district, the sporting skills and commitment of the many volunteers are brought to the fore. The “Evening of Sports” in the Obersberg schools’ auditorium on October 26, 2025 was one such occasion, which attracted around 250 guests, including District Administrator Torsten Warnecke and Daniel Iliev, chairman of the sports group. The evening's moderator was the well-known Daniel Granitzny. The event, which lasted four hours, featured finger food and warm awards ceremonies, while sponsors introduced each award winner and brief interviews were conducted. As HNA reports, awards for outstanding achievements and social merit were presented in a total of twelve categories.

The honoring of young athletes was particularly eye-catching. Abdula Bajrami, just 11 years old, was named Young Athlete of the Year. The talented judoka is aiming to take part in a European Championship. In the adult category, it was Heiko Katzler, a cyclist from Kirchheim, who received the trophy as athlete of the year for his remarkable achievements - a success that he is now celebrating for the second time in a row.

Recognition for diversity in sport

The event not only recognized the successes of individual athletes, but also highlighted the diversity of the local sports scene. Regardless of whether it was a deaf athlete, a handball player or a cyclist – the range was impressive. Natascha Hiltrop, who joined in via video call, received the award for athlete of the year. The true “power woman” won two gold medals at the 2024 Paralympics and is now betting everything on the World Championships in Korea. Sabine Teichmann, coach of the successful TV Hersfeld handball team, was named Coach of the Year for her achievements.
Daniel Iliev also encouraged everyone present to suggest other athletes for nomination next year, because at this event all nominees are winners, as Sandra Trausch-Dalitz emphasized.

These honors are more than just an award - they are also a sign of appreciation for all those who work in the background and create the basis for sporting success. The recognition of associations and voluntary representatives, who often do years of work for their community, provided material for a lively discussion.

Exemplary volunteer work

A look beyond the district's borders shows that commitment to the world of sports is appreciated everywhere. The Stadtsportbund Bonn recently honored young volunteers for their extraordinary commitment. Here too, the solidarity of the athletes and the promotion of young talent is extremely important.

In the current discussion about the future of sport in the region, we must not lose sight of the challenges, such as rising costs and the need to secure and maintain sports facilities. The voice of volunteers remains particularly important here in order to maintain enthusiasm and cohesion and to give everyone the opportunity to actively participate in sporting events.